Explosive-engine.



W. OTTAWAY.

" EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION rum) DEO.17,1910.

1,000,543; Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

W. OTTAWAY. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 1330.17, 1910.

1,000,543, Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNTTED $TATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM OTTAWAY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AURORA AUTOMATIC MACHINERY COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 15, 1911.

Application filed December 17, 1910. Serial No. 597,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM OTTAWAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for supplying the explosive mixture to an explosive engine, and more particularly to means for controlling the action of the inletvalve of such an engine.

In explosive engines of that kind having a throttle valve for controlling the supply of the explosive mixture to the engine, and in which the power cylinder has an inlet valve that is opened by the suction in the cylinder and is closed by the action of a spring, the tension of such spring must be sufficient to promptly close the inlet valve when the throttle is fully opened and the engine running at its maximum speed, but when the throttle valve is nearly closed and the engine is running slowly, or under a light load, much less tension is desirable in the spring, in order that'the inlet valve may at such times be opened to a sufficient extent and remain open during a sufficient length of time to provide for the entrance of an ample quantity of the explosive charge.

An explosive engine made in accordance with this invention is provided with mechanically operated tension controlling means having operative connection with the throttle valve and so constructed that the tension of the valve spring is increased when the throttle valve is operated to increase the supply of explosive mixture and is decreased when the throttle valve is shifted to lessen the explosive mixture supply.

The invention also includes certain features in tension-controlling means for the purpose stated, that may be used independently of the operation of the throttle valve.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in section of the power cylinder of an explosive engine, together with the carbureter and throttle Valve associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the intake valve taken upon line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the parts at the top of the intake valve. Fig. 4 is a detail section taken upon line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail View in side elevation of the throttle valve. Fig. 6 is a detail section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated in said drawings, 5 is the cylinder of an explosive engine, which is provided at one side thereof with an integral casing 6 containing a chamber 7 through which the explosive mixture is admitted to the cylinder, and the combustion products are discharged. Said lateral extension 6 is also provided with upper and lower chambers 8 and 9. The upper chamber 8 forms a supply passage for the explosive mixture and opens into the chamber 7 through a valved admission port in the upper wall of said chamber. The lower chamher 9, which constitutes the exhaust passage for the combustion products, opens at its top into the chamber 7 through a valved exhaust port in the lower wall of said cham ber 7, and is provided with an obliquely disposed neck, forming an exhaust opening with which is connected an exhaust pipe 10. 11 indicates the intake valve disk which is interposed between the chambers 7 and 8 and opens inwardly toward the chamber 7. 12 indicates the exhaust valve disk, which is interposed between the chambers 7 and 9 and opens inwardly toward the chamber 7. The exhaust valve disk 12 has marginal engagement with a seat surrounding the port in the lower wall of the chamber 7 and is held in its closed position by a spring 13 applied to the stem of the valve. Said exhaust valve is made in a familiar manner and need not be herein further described.

The inlet valve chamber 8, in the construction illustrated, is made substantially as shown in my prior Patent Number 876,582, of January 14th, 1908. The outer wall of said chamber consists of a conical, open-ended casing or shell 14: having at one side an integral tubular neck 15 forming the inlet passage for the explosive charge. The lower margin of said shell lt'rests on an annular seat which surrounds an opening in the top of the extension 6, and at its upper end is provided with a circular opening surrounded by an annular, upwardly facing bearing face. Within the shell 14 is a laterally apertured, conical shell 16, open at its top and bottom and provided around the exterior surface of its base with screw threads which engage internal screw threads formed in the opening in the top wall of the extension 6. The open upper end of the shell 16 is provided with internal screw threads which are engaged by the screwthreaded lower end of a cap 17, which latter is provided with an outwardly extending, annular flange 18 adapted to bear clownwardly against the upper end of the exterior shell 14. The turning of said cap relatively to the shell 16, serves to clamp the outer shell 14: between said cap and the top of the extension 6. The seat for the valve 11 is formed by a bearing ring 19 having an outward extending flange that is clamped between the lower margin of the inner shell 16 and an opposing shoulder surrounding the opening in the top wall of the extension 6.

20 indicates a carbureter; 21, a supply pipe connecting said carbureter with the neck 15 of the inlet chamber; and 22, a throttle or controlling valve interposed in the supply pipe between the carbureter and the inlet valve. Said throttle valve is shown in the drawings as mounted on the top of the carbureter 20. The throttle valve illustrated in the drawings is like that illustrated in my prior Patent Number 959,066 of May 24th, 1910, but it is to be understood that so far as the present invention is concerned, any form of throttle valve may be employed for controlling the quantity or charge of explosive mixture supplied to the cylinder. The throttle valve illustrated is a rotative valve and its rotative member is provided with a'rigidly attached, oscillatory actuating arm 23 with which is connected an endwise movable operating rod 24. The rotative member of said throttle valve is also provided with a second oscillatory arm 25 through the movement of which are operated the devices for controlling the tension of the inlet valve closing spring, which are included in the present invention.

The inlet valve disk 11 is provided with a stem 26 to the upper end of which is secured an abutment disk 27. The valve seat ring 19 is provided with a central guide sleeve 28, supported from the seat ring by radial arms and in which slides the valve stem 26. An expansively acting, coiled, valve-closing spring 29, interposed between the abutment disk 27 and a shoulder on the guide-sleeve 28, and surrounding the valve stem, acts with an upward pressure on the said abutment disk to hold the valve disk 11 in. contact with its seat. These parts are 18 thereon.

made substantially as shown in my said prior Patent Number 876,582.

The cap 18 is provided with a central cylindric bore and a central guide-opening in its top. lVithin said bore is located a vertically movable abutment plunger 30 having an integral stem or push pin 31 which extends upwardly through the central guide aperture in the top of the cap. Between said abutment plunger 30 and the top of the abutment disk 27 on the valve stem, is located an expansively acting coiled spring 32. Said spring 32, hereinafter called the controlling spring, acts in opposition to the pressure of the valve-closing spring 29, and when the abutment plunger 30.is shifted inwardly or outwardly, said spring 32 acts with greater or less force on the valve, with the effect of increasing or decreasing the effective pressure of said valve-closing spring.

Devices are provided for giving endwise adjustment to the abutment plunger 30 as follows :-Mounted on the top of the cap 17 is an oscillatory cam plate 33, arranged in contact with and adapted to act upon the upper end of the stem 31 of said plunger. As shown in the drawings, the cam plate 33 is formed integrally with a lever arm 43, and these parts are pivotally supported on the cap 18 by means of a pivot stud 34 secured in an upwardly extending arm 35 formed on a ring 36 which surrounds the upper part of the cap 17 above the flange Said ring 36 is shown as provided with a clamping bolt 37 having a I concave face which fits against the curved face of the cap and is clamped against the same by the action of a nut on the bolt, which shifts the latter endwise when tightened. The cam 33 is operated by suitable actuating connections from the rod which operates the throttle valve; these parts being so arranged that when the valve is thrown toward its open position the cam will be turned in a direction to permit the rising of the abutment plunger 30, thereby lessening the tension of the controlling spring 32, and when the throttle valve is turned toward its closed position, the cam will be moved in a direction to depress said plunger, thereby increasing the tension of said controlling spring. The actuating connection illustrated consists of a connecting rod 38 extending between and pivotally connected with the arm 25 on the rotative member of the throttle valve and the arm 43 on the cam plate 33. In order to provide for adjustment of the relative angular positions of the cam 33 and the rotative member of the throttle valve, provision is made for adjusting the length of the connecting rod 38, the same consisting of a split clamping sleeve 39, whi h is directly pivoted to the V lever 43, and which is adapted to receive power cylinder, an intake valve therefor, a

the upper end of the said connecting rod, which is of cylindric form and adapted to slide endwise in said sleeve. A clamping screw 40 serves to tighten the split sleeve around, and clamp the same rigidly to, the connecting rod.

From the construction described it will be understood that when the operating rod 24 is moved endwise to shift or turn the throttle valve, corresponding movement will be transmitted to the cam 33 and the abutment plunger will be carried toward or permitted to move away from the valve disk 11. In its inward movement the plunger 30 compresses the controlling spring 32, so that the same will act with greater force or pressure on the valve stem and will thus lessen the efiective force of the valve-closing spring 29, and permit the valve disk to open more easily or with less pressure. lVhen, however, the abutment plunger 30 is permitted to move outwardly, the tension of the controlling spring 32 will be decreased and it will exert less pressure on the valve disk, so that the valve-closing spring will then act with greater force to hold the valve disk against its seat. The parts will be so arranged as to give a maximum tension in the valve-closing spring when the throttle valve is in position giving maximum admission and the engine is running at maximum speed, and to give minimum tension of the valve-closing spring when the throttle is in position giving minimum admission, as will be the case when the engine is running slowly or under a light load.

The main advantages of the construction described is that it provides means for automatically lessening the spring pressure on the inlet valve at times when a light pres sure only is needed, thereby reducing wear and tear on the parts, lessenin the noise when the valve is seating itself, and improving the operation of the engine by insuring admission of a full charge of the ex plosive mixture when the engine is running slowly or under a light load.

So far as the simultaneous operation of the throttle valve and the tension-controlling means for the closing-spring are concerned, it is to be understood that the construction illustrated is only one of many devices that may be applied forthis purpose; it only being necessary that there be employed some form of actuating connections for the throttle valve and the spring-controlling means, whereby the same will be simultaneously operated, and the decrease or increase of the tension or effective pressure of said spring will correspond with the decrease or increase of the explosive mixture supply.

I claim as my invention 1. An explosive engme comprlsing a closing spring applied to said intake valve, a throttle valve controlling the supply of the explosive mixture to the intake valve, and means for increasing and decreasing the effective pressure of the closing spring connected with the throttle valve and acting to increase and decrease the effective pres sure of said closing spring to correspond with the increase and decrease of the explosive mixture supply.

2. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve, a closing spring applied to said intake valve, a controlling spring applied to oppose the pressure of the closmg spring, and means for varying the tension of the controlling spring.

8. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve, a closing spring applied to the intake valve, a controlling spring applied to oppose the pressure of the controlling spring, a movable member forming an abutment for the controlling spring, and means for shifting said member to increase and decrease the tension of said controlling spring.

4:. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve, a coiled, expansively acting closing spring acting on the said intake valve, a controlling spring acting on said intake valve in opposition to the closing spring, and means for varying the tension of said controlling spring.

5. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve having a valve disk provided with a stem, an abutment disk on said valve stem, a coiled spring acting on said abutment disk, a coiled, expansively acting spring acting on said abutment disk in opposition to the pressure of the closing spring, and a movable abutment member for said controlling spring.

6. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve having a valve disk provided with a stem, an abutment disk on said stem, a coiled closing spring acting on said abutment disk, a coiled, expansively acting, controlling spring acting on said abutment disk in opposition to the pressure of said closing spring, a sliding abutment plunger for said controlling spring provided with a stem which extends outwardly through the valve casing, and a cam acting on said stem.

7. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve for said power cylinder, a closing spring applied to said intake valve, a throttle valve controlling the supply of explosive mixture to the intake valve, a'controlling spring applied to oppose the pressure of the closing spring, and means for varying the tension of the controlling spring, connected with the throttle valve and acting to increase the pressure of said controlling spring when the supply of explosive mixture is decreased.

8. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an'intake valve therefor, a closing spring applied to act on the said intake valve, a throttle valve controlling the supply of explosive mixture to the intake valve, a controlling spring acting on the said intake valve in opposition to the pressure of the closing spring, a movable abutment member between which and the said intake valve the controlling spring is located, and means for simultaneously actuating said controlling valve and the abutment member, acting to increase and lessen the effective pressure of the controlling spring according to the increase and decrease of the supply of explosive mixture.

9. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve therefor, consisting of a disk provided with a stem, a coiled closing spring acting expansively on the valve stem, a throttle valve controlling the supply of the explosive mixture to the intake valve, a coiled controlling spring applied to act on the intake valve in opposition to the pressure of the closing spring, a sliding plunger between which and the intake valve said controlling spring is located, said plunger being provided with a stem, a cam applied to act on said stem, and means for simultaneously actuating said cam and the throttle valve, acting to vary the tension of the controlling spring to correspond with the degree of opening of .the throttle valve.

10. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve, a closing spring applied to said intake valve, a throttle valve controlling the supply of explosive mixture to the intake valve, embracing an oscillatory valve member provided with a crank-arm, controlling means for changing the effective pressure of the said closing spring, embracing an oscillatory crank-arm, and a connecting rod oining the crank-arm of the throttle valve member with the crank-arm of the pressure-controlling means.

11. An explosive engine comprising a power cylinder, an intake valve, a closing spring applied to said intake valve, a throttle valve controlling the supply of explosive mixture to the intake valve, embracing an oscillatory valve member provided with a crank arm, controlling means for changing the effective pressure of the said closing spring, embracing an oscillatory crank-arm, and a connecting rod joining the crank-arm of the throttle valve member with the crank-arm of the pressure-controlling means, said connecting rod being provided with means for adjusting the effective length of the same.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 7th day of December A. D. 1910.

WILLIAM OTTAWAY.

Witnesses:

Arms 0. W ARKEN, C. A. BURGESS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

